Music, celebration and recognition filled Zion Cathedral Church of God in Christ on June 19 as community members gathered for the church’s sixth annual Juneteenth celebration, UBORA: Celebrating the Spirit of Black Excellence Awards Gala.
While the annual event is held in Freeport, this year it had a partnership with MRO Palace in Lynbrook, which helped accommodate the growing celebration with vibrant traditional clothing. Guests from across Long Island and the New York City area gathered for the evening, which featured an awards ceremony, live music, spoken word, traditional dance and an African marketplace showcasing local businesses.
Under the leadership of Bishop Frank A. White, Zion Cathedral established UBORA to celebrate the resilience, history and achievements of Black Americans while recognizing people who continue that legacy through service to their communities.
Guests embraced the event’s cultural traditions by wearing African attire, filling the venue with vibrant colors throughout the evening. Each award presented was paired with the legacy of a historic African American whose contributions helped shape the nation, connecting today’s honorees with influential figures from the past.
Sherri Tatum, chair of Zion Cathedral’s Juneteenth celebration, said the event has become an opportunity not only to honor community leaders, but also to educate people about Black history and culture.
“We had people come from all over Long Island and throughout New York City,” Tatum said. “They came to celebrate these amazing people, enjoy the culture, shop at the African market and remember both the struggles and the accomplishments of our ancestors.”
For many recipients, the recognition was deeply personal.
“It really was an incredible gala,” Tatum said. “One of the honorees told us, ‘This is my Grammy Award.’ That stuck with me because so many of the honorees wept as they accepted their awards.”
Tatum said Zion Cathedral plans to continue hosting the annual celebration and recognizing individuals whose work positively impacts their communities.
“There are so many people making a difference every day,” she said. “At Zion Cathedral we plan to continue to recognize and celebrate people and organizations who are making a positive difference in the community and our nation.”
